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Spiny Arid Land Bromeliads; Plants with Attitude!

© Jared R. Shortman

First of all what is a Bromeliad? With about 2,400 species in 59 genera, this is certainly a diverse group of plants. Most are epiphytic (growing on trees) although they can be found on the ground, in rock faces, sand dunes, in streams, and even growing on columnar cacti. Some have actually started growing an man-made structures like buildings and on clotheslines in tropical areas. This is one of the aspects that make them fun to grow. Bromeliads tend to be easy to cultivate.

     Pineapple plants (Ananas comosus) are famous Bromeliads, and one of the few that are economic to humans outside of horticulture or floriculture. Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) is another economic plant used for packaging and as stuffing for upholstery, especially in automobile seats. There are many bromeliads that have edible fruits and are popular in local folk ethnobotanies.      Almost all Bromeliads are native to the new world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. There is one species however, Pitcairnia feliciana from Africa. Interestingly enough only one member of the cactus family (which are commonly ecologically allied with Bromeliads) also makes it to Africa, Rhipsalis cassytha. The only truly limiting factor in the natural distribution of the Bromeliaceae seems to be cold. Even the driest of areas seem to harbor Bromeliads.

     Bromeliads create some interesting habitats for insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals; even a unusual crab dwells in the tanks of some Bromeliads. Some of the spiny terrestrials are important nurse-plants for cacti, and other plants. In some areas of the world you can find impenetrable thickets of spiny bromeliads that keep even cattle out.

     Bromeliads have attracted horticulturists since Columbus brought the pineapple to the old world. In the mid 19th century it became more popular to grow other bromeliads. They have some of the most interesting forms around, and are also some of the most colorful-in both foliage and flowers. Now they are found all over in cultivation, especially in indoor commercial landscapes. Almost any large shopping mall has bromeliads growing in it!

Some years ago I recieved my first "spiny" Bromeliad. It was a Dyckia. About 107 species make up this South American genus of rosette-forming plants. The Genus is named after the cactus researcher Count Salm-Dyck (1770-1861). Off-shooting, sometimes with creeping rhizomes, these plants can spread out and even serve as a groundcover, although they look gorgeous in clay pots or stuffed in a rock garden.

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